Austin High School (Austin, Texas)

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Stephen F. Austin High School
The current building on Lady Bird Lake (Town Lake)
Mens agitat molem
Location
1715 West Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, Texas
Information
School district Austin Independent School District
Principal John Hudson
Type Public
Grades 9 through 12
Athletics conference UIL 25-AAAAA
Mascot Maroons / Mr. Maroo
Color(s) Maroon and White
Established 1881
Information 512-414-2505
Homepage http://www.austinisd.org/schools/website.phtml?id=014

Stephen F. Austin High School, or more commonly Austin High, founded in 1881, is one of the oldest public high schools west of the Mississippi River.

The current campus is located near downtown Austin along the Colorado River. The school, originally known simply as Austin High School, was renamed in 1953 after Stephen F. Austin, known as the "Father of Texas." Austin High School is one of eleven high schools in the Austin Independent School District.

Roughly 2,100 students attend the school in grades nine through twelve. The school's current building is the third built to house the school, following four 19th century locations in other buildings.[1] Austin High's official motto is Mens Agitat Molem (Latin: The Mind Moves the Masses) or, literally, "Mind Over Matter."

Austin High was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1982-83. [2]

Austin High School has consistently excelled in academics. The athletic teams are called the Maroons, and while the Maroons' athletic history is spotty, they have won the state championship in football three times: in 1914, 1915, and 1942. Austin High has also been home to a state champion in every decade since the University Interscholastic League was formed in 1910. Austin High has a very enthusiastic following, as graduates are encouraged to be "Loyal Forever." This is evident by large crowds that still flock to House Park to see the Maroons play on Friday nights.

Senior pranks have been a tradition at Austin High School. Streakers, or people running naked down the halls, have also been a tradition at the beginning of the school year, however students have been discouraged from this behavior in the past with forced consequences such as suspension or expulsion. Every year two major bacchanals, Hodown and Toga, are thrown. Hodown, which takes place during the first semester is typically thrown by the Junior Class; whereas Toga, the pride of the Seniors, is thrown at the end of the school year. The parties trace their roots back to the 1970's and today have become a widely known and anticipated events, illicit though they are.

There is also credible speculation that Richard Linklater's 1993 film Dazed and Confused is based on the first Toga party thrown by the Stephen F. Austin High School seniors in the 1970's.[citation needed]

Part of the 1998 Robert Rodriguez film "The Faculty" was filmed in the boys' locker room at Austin High, and many AHS students served as extras in the film.

[edit] Notable Alumni

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Austin High School Historical Marker Text. Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved on 2007-07-05.
  2. ^ Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002 (PDF)

[edit] External links